Method and means for packing articles of tapered shape



Aug. 4, 1964 D. MGINTYRE ETAL METHOD AND MEANS FOR PACKING ARTICLES OF TAPERED SHAPE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 28, 1961 MAM D. MCINTYRE ETAL 3,143,223

METHOD AND MEANS EOE PACKING ARTICLES oF TAPEEED SHAPE Aug. 4, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 28, 1961 m Q NQ D. MCINTYRE ETAL 3,143,223

5 Sheets-Sheet 3 METHOD AND MEANS FOR PACKING ARTICLES OF TAPERED SHAPE Aug. 4, 1964 Filed June 28. 1961 FI G -3 Aug. 4, 1964 D. MCINTYRE ETAL 3,143,223

METHOD .AND MEANS FOR PACKING ARTICLES 0F TAPERED SHAPE Filed June 28, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG- 4 Aug. 4, 1964 D. MCINTYRE ETAL v 3,143,223

METHOD AND MEANS FOR PACKING ARTICLES OF' TAPERED SHAPE Filed June 28, 1961 5 Sheets-Shee'l'I 5 Z {Z f'Z United States Patent O 3,143,223 METHOD AND BEANS FR PACKDIG ARTICLES OF TAPEREI) SHAPE Daniel McIntyre, Portland, William R. Biehl, I-Iaddam, and Walter A. Olsen, East Hampton, Conn., assignors to Ernhart Manufacturing Company, Hartford, Conn., a corporation of Delawme Filed June 23, 196i, Ser. No. 120,253 Claims. (Cl. 21d- 6.5)

This invention relates to the packing of articles, such as containers, in shipping cases and, more specically, to an improved method and mechanism for arranging containers of uniform size but of tapered shape into load groups in a desired pattern so that they may be packed most efficiently in rectangular cases.

By way of illustration, the method and apparatus of this invention may be used to great advantage in the packing of tapered meat cans. Such cans are shaped like an Obelisk (frustum of a rectangular pyramid), and they are preferably packed in rectangular cases capable of holding two tiers of 24 cans each, but they may be packed in two tiers of l2 cans each. In either event, the desired arrangement is for the larger bottom end of one can to be surrounded on all sides by the smaller top ends of the adjacent cans in a tier wherein each tier is made up of an even number of side-by-side rows of cans and each row comprises an even number of cans, whereby the tier or load group assumes a substantially rectangular shape.

The meat cans, after being iilled, are transported on a conveyor in single file, erect order. That is, the cans when iiled and sealed move along, large bottom end down, on the conveyor with the smaller area sides of the cans facing forwardly and rearwardly in the direction of travel and with the larger area sides of the cans facing transversely of the direction of travel. Then, according to the invention, the cans are introduced in sequence in the said single le order onto a spacing conveyor having apparatus associated therewith which lays the cans on their wider area sides in two rows on the opposite sides of the single tile path. The said apparatus is constructed and arranged to move the cans from the single le onto their side in the side rows in a selected repetitive pattern. Then, the two advancing side rows of cans converge to again form a single file, central row on a moving pattern forming conveyor, but in this newly formed single row the cans rest on their sides. Further, a predetermined even number of cans are arranged in a preselected pattern with respect to their end-by-end orientation, and this pattern of arrangement is repeated in each occurrence of the said even number of cans in the row.

After converging in the selected pattern in the moving row, the cans are advanced to a position wherein the cans in one pattern sequence are separated from the other cans in the row. Then an elevator lifts a selected number (generally one-half) of the cans from the sequence to a position over the conveyor. Then, the elevator returns to lift an equal number of cans into position below the group of cans first lifted. This separation and lifting of the cans is repeated until a selected even number of horizontal rows of cans is reached, thus forming a load group or case tier of cans resting on their sides in alternate end-by-end orientation. Then, the tier or load group is thrust horizontally into an open case resting upon its side.

'I'he case is lilled with the number of tiers needed, generally no more than two. When a two tier case is being loaded, the apparatus is adapted to build two tiers at the same time so that they can be moved together into the empty case.

ice

From the foregoing description, it will be understood that it is the general object of the invention to provide a method and an apparatus which may be operated automatically to orient tapered articles in a selected end-by-end relationship and to assemble the oriented articles into substantially rectangular load groups for packing in rectangular cases.

The drawings show a preferred embodiment of the invention and such embodiment will be described, but it will be understood that various changes may be made from the construction disclosed, and that the drawings and description are not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims forming a part of this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

Of the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the left-hand portion of the apparatus or machine provided in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. la is a continuation of FIG. l and comprises a top plan view of the right-hand portion of the machine;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the left-hand portion of the machine;

FIG. 2a is a continuation of FIG. 2 and comprises a front elevation of the right-hand portion of the machine;

FIG. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken as indicated by the line 3 3 of FIG. 2 to show at an enlarged scale the article tilting mechanism which forms a part of the pattern forming apparatus of the machine;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view of the mechanism of FIG. 3 and is taken as indicated by the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is another enlarged vertical cross-sectional view taken generally as indicated by the line 5-5 of FIG. 2a to show the mechanism which thrusts pattern groups of the articles from a single iile into two advancing rows;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a tapered meat can, this being illustrative of the type article that can be arranged for packing to great advantage with the machine of this invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration showing the final handling of tapered meat cans prior to the packing thereof in shipping cases;

FIG. 8 is a wiring diagram illustrating some of the control elements employed in this machine; and

FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of the means for retaining the cans in stacked rows or tiers prior to packing them in shipping cases.

The Infeed Conveyor and the Pattern Forming Apparatus As has been said, a machine incorporating the features of the present invention can be used to particular advantage in orienting and arranging tapered meat cans for packing in rectangular shipping cases. Therefore, the illustration of the machine in the accompanying drawings shows it as being particularly adapted to the handling of such tapered cans which are of obelisk form. However, it is to be understood that machines may be provided in accordance with the invention to handle a wide Variety of other articles of tapered shape.

Referring to FIGS. l and 2, and particularly to the left-hand portions thereof, it will be observed that conveyor means is provided to advance the meat cans C, C from left to right in erect single le order. An enlarged view of a meat can C is shown in FIG. 6 wherein it will be observed that the can has a relatively large bottom end B and a relatively small top end T. It will also be noted that of the four side walls of the can two are relatively large and two are somewhat smaller. In the single file order of advance of the cans, they are arranged so that a smaller side wall faces in the direction of travel and the opposite smaller side wall faces rearwardly with respect to the direction of travel. u

The meat cans C, C are of the vacuum type. That is, the meat product is vacuum packed Within the cans which are thereafter to be opened by use of a key K (FG. 6) which is held in place on the trailing side wall of each can in the le of cans being advanced.

Returning now to FIGS. l and 2, the infeed conveying means comprises an endless belt 19 supported upon pulleys on shafts 12 and 14 which extend transversely and are journaled in the skirt of a longitudinally extending table 16. The said table 16 is split at the left-hand end to accommodate the passage of the single file of cans C, C longitudinally thereof between guide bars 18, 18, and the said table extends for the entire length of the machine.

The drive for the conveyor belt is provided by an electric motor 2b which is located below the table 16 and which rotates a longitudinally extending drive shaft 22 as by a chain and sprocketunit indicated at 24. One end of the drive shaft 22 is supported in a frame structure 26 for the table 16 and by means of gearing it drives a chain 28 which is connected by a sprocket to the driven shaft 14 for the conveyor belt 1t). Thus, the conveyor belt 18 transports the cans C, C in close single tile order until they reach an escapement in the form of a starwheel Si) which provides for spacing between adjacent cans being advanced and carried by the conveyor belt.

The starwheel 38 is driven in timed relationship with the conveyor belt lil, its drive being taken from the driven pulley shaft 14 by means of a chain and sprocket unit 32 and bevel gearing indicated at 34.

While the starwheeel 30 provides spacing between the advancing cans on the conveyor belt, additional means is employed to assure accuracy of the said spacing. Said additional means comprises a spacing chain 36 which is endless and which rotates about vertical axes 38, 3S located rearwardly on the table 16 so as to be on one side of the advancing single tile of cans. The spacing chain 36 has a plurality of outwardly projecting lugs 40, 4i? which are secured to the said chain in evenly spaced relationship. These lugs 40, 40 engage the cans C, C

which have been spaced by the starwheel 30 to thrust them along in the single lile order olf the conveyor belt 18, across a dead plate 42 and onto a pattern forming conveyor chain 44 in evenly spaced relationship.

Like the conveyor belt 18, the pattern forming conveying chain 44 is supported below the table 16 to continue the longitudinal movement of the single file of cans along the central portion of the said table. Further, the said endless pattern forming chain is driven by the motor so as to operate in timed relationship with the conveyor belt, the drive for the chain being taken from a chain and pulley unit indicated generally at 46. Like the timing chain 36, the pattern forming chain 44 has a plurality of evenly spaced outwardly projecting lugs or pins 48, 48 thereon which engage the rear bottom edges of the cans C, C as they are released by the lugs 40, 40 on the timing chain. Thus, the pattern forming chain 44 conveys the said cans after they leave the conveyor belt and are disengaged by the spacing chain 36.

As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the lugs 48, 48 project upwardly between a pair of longitudinally extending plates 58, 50 secured to the table 16 to move the cans longitudinally over said plates and across the forward end 52 (FIG. 4) thereof. This movement of the cans is, of course, in erect single iile evenly spaced order, and a leaf spring 54 (FIGS. 1 and 2) is supported over the advancing cans to lightly engage the tops thereof to guide them and to prevent them from turning, the cans also being guided by means of a side rail 56.

After the cans move over the edge S2 of the plates 55, 56, they drop a short distance onto the pattern forming chain 44 which is moving horizontally. Some of the links of the said chain between adjacent pins 48, 48 have laterally extending lugs secured thereto to define either a forwardly tilting platform 58 or a rearwardly tilting platform 6@ (FIG. 4). That is, there is either a forwardly tilting platform 58 provided between adjacent pins 48, 48 on the pattern forming chain 44 or there is a rearwardly tilting platform 68 provided therebetween. These platforms 58 and 68 are arranged along the chain 44 to tilt the successive cans C, C either forwardly or rearwardly, and thereby either to one side or to the opposite side of the path of movement of the single file of cans, according to a predetermined pattern. It will be noted that the forwardly tilting platform 58 has a beveled edge 62 near the chain 44 to assist in tilting cans forwardly and the rearwardly tilting platforms 6i) have a beveled edge 64 near the said chain to assist in tilting the cans rearwardly. The forwardly tilting cans fall upon a longitudinally extending link belt or chain conveyor 66 and the rearwardly tilted cans fall upon a similarv conveyor 68. As will be described hereinafter, the link belt or chain conveyors 66 and 68 are driven in timed relationship with the pattern forming chain 44.

The tilting or tipping over of the cans onto their larger area sides so that they will thereafter advance in two rows on the conveyor belts or chains 66 and 68 is assisted by means engageable with the cans while they are still erect and being carried by the pattern forming chain 44. The said means is operable in timed relationship with movement of the cans by the pattern forming chain, and the said means includes an endless chain 70 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3) which is supported over the pattern forming chain on a suitable frame structure 72 which is secured to the table 16. The chain 7i) is driven by the motor 20 so as to be in timed relationship with movement of the pattern forming chain 44, the drive for the chain 70 being taken from the drive shaft 22 by a chain and sprocket connection 74.

Like the pattern forming chain, the tip-over chain 70 follows a generally rectangular course around four sprockets in a vertical longitudinal plane located centrally of the machine table 16. At evenly spaced locations along the endless chain 70 there are located a series of forwardly tilting paddles 76, 76 intermingled with rearwardly tilting paddles 78, 78, all of which are engageable with cans being carried and moved by the pattern forming chain 44. The forwardly tilting paddles 76, 76 are carried on laterally rearwardly extending brackets 88, 89 which support the said paddles pivotally. Each paddle 76 is normally held in a vertical plane by a spring 82 which is located on a bolt 84 connected with the paddle. However, each such paddle can be tilted forwardly when it engages a cam plate 86 (FIGS. 1 and 3), and the cam plate is so arranged and supported on the table 16 and by the frame 72 so as to pivot each paddle 76 forwardly into engagement with a can top and thereby to tilt the can forwardly in cooperation with the tilt platform 58. That is, a forwardly tilting paddle 76 is arranged on the chain 70 to register with each forwardly tilting platform 58 on the pattern forming chain 44 so that they will engage a can C simultaneously and tilt it forwardly onto its larger area side.

The rearwardly tilting paddles 78, 78 on the chain 70 are supported for pivotal movement by brackets and other means identical to the brackets and means used to support the paddles 76, 76, but the rearwardly tilting paddles are supported laterally forwardly of the chain 70. A cam 88 is arranged to engage and pivot the paddles 78, 78 rearwardly when they reach a position over a rearwardly tilting platform 6) on the pattern forming chain 44.

As will be described, after the cans have been tipped over forwardly and rearwardly onto the two side conveyors, the two advancing rows of cans are converged to reestablish a single advancing line or file with the cans lying on their sides. The purpose of tilting them forwardly and rearwardly into two rows and then reconverging them is to orient them in the reestablished single tile in a desired end-by-end relationship in accordance with a predetermined pattern. Since the cans are Obelisk shaped, and since it is desired to pack them in rectangular shipping cases, this means that it is desirable to arrange the cans in generally rectangular tiers for insertion within the cases. Further, since the desired size for the cases is such that they will accommodate either 24 cans in two l2 can tiers or two 24 can tiers, the pattern for the tapered meat cans is dictated by these requirements. However, the pattern of arrangement for other tapered articles may be different due to different requirements.

In providing a substantially rectangular tier of the meat cans for packing 24 cans to a tier, there will be six sideby-side rows of 4 cans each, Further, the cans should be arranged in the load group rows and in the load group tier so that the bottom end of any can will be surrounded on any of its four sides by the smaller top ends of the adjacent cans. Since the load group rows contain four cans each, this dictates a pattern for the cans at the pattern forming chain which comprises eight cans. That is, there will be an arrangement of the forwardly and rearwardly tilting platforms 58 and 6@ on the pattern forming chain 44 and an arrangement of the forwardly and rearwardly tilting paddles '7-5 and 78 on the tip-over chain 7l) that will tilt the cans in accordance with a predetermined pattern until eight cans have been so tilted, and then the pattern will be repeated. For example, the rst can in a series may be tilted rearwardly so that its bottom end will face forwardly of the machine. The second, third and fourth cans will then be tilted forwardly, rearwardly and forwardly, respectively, so that their respective top, bottom and top ends will face forwardly on the machine. Then, the iifth can will also be tilted forwardly so that its top will face forwardly and the sixth, seventh and eighth cans will be tilted rearwardly, forwardly, and rearwardly, respectively, so that their respective bottom, top and bottom ends will face forwardly. This eight-can pattern arrangement is illustrated in FIG. 7. Then, when the foremost four cans are removed to provide a load group row, their ends will be alternately arranged and when the next successive group of four cans are removed and placed side-by-side with the first load group row, their ends will be alternately arranged with respect to each other and with respect to the cans in the said :'irst load group row. In FIGS. l, 1a, 2 and 2a, the cans moving along the machine are designated by the letters B and T to show whether their bottom or top ends, respectively, face forwardly of the machine.

While the aforesaid specific pattern is suitable to prepare the cans for assembly in load group rows of four each and into a plurality of such rows to provide a load group tier, it should be understood that the pattern will vary only as to the number of cans 0r other articles whenever a substantially rectangular tier is to be formed from the articles. That is, in forming a rectangular tier, a pattern can be made which will include any desired predetermined even number of articles wherein the rst and last of such articles in the pattern are arranged with similar ends facing in the same direction and wherein the said similar ends of the two middle articles in the pattern face in the opposite direction. The articles located between the ends and the middle articles are arranged alternately in end-by-end relationship. Then, when one-half of the even number of articles in the pattern are removed to form a load group row and the next one-half is moved adjacent thereto in side-by-side relationship as the second row, a substantially rectangular load group tier is always formed.

The Row Coizvergng and Pattern Dividing /[eclzanz'sm As has been mentioned, those cans which are tilted or tipped forwardly so that their tops will face forwardly fall upon the link belt or chain conveyor 66, and those cans which have been tipped rearwardly so that their bottoms will ultimately face forwardly fall upon the link belt or chain conveyor d8. The chains or belts 66 and 68 are endless and extend longitudinally of the machine table 16 and they are entrained on pulleys or sprockets mounted on common shafts 9d and 92, one of which is driven by a chain 94 connected to a sprocket driven by one end of the motor driven drive shaft 22. Thus, the side conveyors 66 and e8 are driven in timed relationship with the pattern forming chain 44.

Each of the conveyors 66 and 68 is provided with a plurality of transversely extending lugs 526, 96 which are evenly spaced apart to receive tilted cans therebetween. These lugs engage the trailing side wall of the cans which now lay on their sides to move the cans along in accurately spaced relationship. A pair of brushes 98, 98 are suitably supported over the conveyors 66 and 68, respectively, to lightly engage the cans moving thereon and to hold them so that they will be engaged by the lugs 95, and advanced in the desired spaced relationship.

A third and intermediate longitudinally extending conveyor 11?@ is located between the parallel side conveyors 66 and 68 and parallel thereto. The conveyor 100 is similar in all respects to the conveyors 66 and 63 and is driven in timed relationship therewith by being entrained on a pulley or sprocket supported on the shaft 92. The said conveyor chain 10@ is also supported on a pulley or sprocket on a shaft 1132 (FIG. 2) and it will be noted that the eective length of the conveyor 100 is less than that of the conveyors 66 and 68. However, all three conveyors 66, 63, and 161i terminate at their pulleys on the shaft 92 at the advanced end of the moving column of cans.

As -best shown in FIG. l, the cans are thrust from the side conveyors 66 and 68 onto the intermediate conveyor 101B to reestablish a single moving row or iile of the cans in their original order. The means causing the cans to converge upon the intermediate conveyor 100 comprises a pair of guide rails 164, 104 which are supported by the table 16 over the three parallel belts in an oblique arrangement. Thus, the single file of moving cans is reestablished with the cans laying on their sides in the endby-end pattern created at the pattern forming belt 44.

As best shown at the right-hand ends of FIGS. l and 2 and in FIGS. la and 2a, the single le of cans leaving the intermediate conveyor 1G11 engage each other and are thrust by the lugs on the said conveyor over a dead plate 1% and onto a centrally located longitudinally extending belt conveyor 10S. The belt conveyor 108 is driven by a second drive motor 11i) located below the table 16 (FIG. 2a), the belt 108 being supported on pulleys which re mounted on transverse shafts 112 (FIG. 2) and 114 (FIG. 2a), and a chain and sprocket unit 116 drives the shaft 114.

The cans advance in the closely packed single tile order until the foremost can engages a stop 118, and then a shear gate 126i is lowered to separate the foremost pattern of eight cans in the advancing row from the remaining cans. The shear gate 121) is located on the free ends of a pair of arms 122, 122 which are pivotally supported over the conveyor table 16 on a frame structure 124. The arms 122 are pivoted to lower and elevate the shear gate by means of an air cylinder and piston unit 126. The operation of the air cylinder is controlled by a solenoid actuated valve, and the control of the shear gate will be more fully described hereinafter in connection with a description of the wiring diagram of FIG. 8.

As will be described, the shear gate is lowered to isolate the foremost eight can pattern so that the eight cans thereof can be moved either rearwardly or forwardly onto side conveyor belts 128 or 130 respectively. As the shear gate is lowered, it is guided between the eighth and ninth can in the single le by means of one or more rollers 132 which slide between a pair of guide bars 134, 134 secured to the machine table 16. Division of the eight can pattern from the remainder of the file is better facilitated by means of a knoll 136 which is located over the conveyor belt 108. This knoll 136 comprises a plate secured to the table 16 and causes each can passing thereover to be lifted slightly at its front end and thus a space is provided between the eighth and ninth cans in the row or single file at the knoll so that the shear gate 120 can easily be inserted therebetween to prevent more cans advancing in the single file until the foremost pattern of eight cans has been moved either to one side or to the other.

The means pushing the eight can pattern rearwardly or forwardly to divide it from the advancing single tile is indicated generally by the reference number 138 (FIGS. la and 2a), and it is shown in the greatest detail in FlG. 5. The said means comprises a transversely disposed air cylinder 140 located over the machine table 16 and having a piston rod 142 which extends over the said table and is connected with a carriage 144. The carriage 144 has two pair of rollers 146, 146 at each side which ride upon a pair of guide bars 148, 148 in transverse movement over the table. Below the said guide bars and immediately over the conveyor belts 108, 128 and 130, the carriage 144 carries a pair of longitudinally extending inverted channel members, these being a rear channel member 150 and a front channel member 152.

When the piston rod 142 is retracted in the air cylinder 140, the rear channel member 158 is disposed immediately over the intermediate conveyor belt 108, and it is of sufficient Ilength between the stop 118 and the shear gate 126 to accommodate the eight cans of the foremost pattern. Then, as the piston rod 142 is thrust outwardly, the cans within the channel 115 are pushed off the belt 108 and onto the side conveyor belt 128 which is located rearwardly of the intermediate conveyor 108. In this last described position of the piston rod 142 and the carriage 144, the front channel member 152 is located over the intermediate belt 108 to receive the next eight can pattern advancing to the stop 118. Then, when the piston rod 142 is again retracted, the cans in the eight can pattern are moved forwardly onto the side conveyor 136 and the channel member 150 is again in position to receive the next eight can pattern.

The operation and control of the reciprocable pusher unit 138 will be described more fully in connection with the wiring diagram of FIG. 8.

The conveyor belts 128 and 130 are driven by the second drive motor 110, these belts being entrained on pulleys mounted upon the transverse shafts 154 and 156, the last mentioned shaft being driven from the motor 110 as by a chain and sprocket unit 158. Therefore, the driven belt conveyors 128 and 138 advance the cans in two rows and in eight can pattern groups as schematically illustrated in FIG.`7. The cans advance in the aforesaid two rows to positions on an elevator or lift 160. As shown in FIG. 7, the foremost can in each row engages a stop to prevent further advance of the cans in the row, and the elevator is of suilicient size in this particular embodiment to support four cans in each of the two advancing rows. Then, when the elevator or lift is moved upwardly, the four cans are raised and held in a position to define a load group row. Then, the elevator is lowered to its initial position to receive four more cans in each row and it is again elevated to place the second load group row in side-by-side relationship with the rst load group row. This up and down reciproction of the elevator is continued until six rows of four cans 'each have been accumulated, thus building a load group tier for `each row. Then, a packer pusher 162 is moved horizontally to thrust the two load group tiers into a packing case.

The packer construction includes suitable means for retaining the stacked rows of cans until the load group tiers are formed and pushed horizontally into a packing case. Such suitable retaining means is preferably like that shown at FIGURE 15 in a publication entitled Type 806-SP Can Packer Service Manual that was published by Emhart Manufacturing Company on May 24, 1961 (see Class A Copyright VRegistration No. 506,248, dated lune 9, 1961). Other suitable retaining means can be-like that shown in the publication entitled Standard-Knapp 800 Series Collectors and Packers (published by Standard-Knapp Division of Hartford- Empire Company prior to 1951 [see the Type 806 Packer illustrationsl); and Standard-Knapp 800 Series Collectors and Packers (published by Emhart Manufacturing Company Portland Division after 1951 [see the Type 806 Packer lllustrations]). A description of operation of a suitable retaining means is provided in a 1958 publication of Emhart Manufacturing Company entitled Emhart Standard-Knapp Package Packer Type SIC-806.

As shown in FIG. 9, the preferred means for retaining the cans in the stacked rows includes a pair of adjustable side plates 163, 163 and a floor 165 having openings 167, 167 to accommodate two sections of the lift or elevator 161?. The said openings have spring loaded gates 169, 169 located around them to permit the elevator to raise the can stacks over the gates which then spring back into the openings when the lift is lowered. When the bottom rows of cans are lifted into the stacks, the lift 160 remains elevated at the level of the floor 165 while the pusher 162 moves the tiers into the packing case as is shown in FIG. 9.

These operations will be more fully understood in connection with a general description of operation having reference primarily to the wiring diagram of FIG. 8.

Operation Before starting machine operation, the operator or attendant should be certain that the shear gate is down and that the divider unit 138 is retracted, i.e., that the air cylinder has retracted the divider unit piston rod 142. Then, the operator should place twelve cans in the single lane conveyor 108 from the shear gate 120 rearwardly of the lane. That is, the lirst eight cans placed should be in accordance with the desired eight can pattern and then the next four cans should be arranged to start the next pattern. The twelfth can placed in the row will engage and close a normally open limit switch 201 (FIGS. la and 8) which will condition the machine for proper dividing operation in separating the foremost eight can pattern from the advancing single column as will hereinafter be described. v The operator should also make sure that an upright can is placed in the pocket of the starwheel 30 and that other upright cans are placed in a line therebehind so as finally to engage and close a switch 202 (FIGS. l and 8) which conditions the machine for proper pattern forming operation. The switch 202 is a normally opened limit switch which when open stops motor operation and thus operation of the entire machine because of an absence of cans on the infeed conveyor.

As a further operation preliminary to starting the machine, the operator should check the position of the pattern forming chain 44 and of the tip-over chain 70 to be sure that the rst cans handled thereby will complete the eight can pattern which was partly formed at the switch 291. The best thing to do prior to starting machine operation is to place cans in the conveyor in the eight can pattern sequence from the shear gate 12@ rearwardly thereof through the pattern forming chain 44, the starwheel 30 all the way to the trst detector switch 202.

When these preliminaries have been attended to, the machine is in condition for automatic operation by means of a plurality of electric circuits schematically shown in FIG. 8, these electric circuits all being fed by lead lines L1 and L2. The rst step in automatic operation is to close the push button start switch 204 which completes a circuit between the lines L1 and L2 to energize a control relay 1CR, the said circuit including a normally closed push button stop switch 21";6. When the control relay ICR is closed, it closes normally open switch contacts 208 bridging the start switch 294 which can thereby be released and the relay will continue to be energized thereafter.

Also with the closing of the start switch 2%, a circuit will be completed to energize a time delay relay TDRl. This circuit includes the switch 262 at the infeed conveyor and which is closed and held closed by cans being fed into the machine. When the said time delay relay is energized, it closes a normally open switch 21? in a circuit which includes the two drive motors 21'; and ilo in parallel. The said circuit also includes normally open contacts 212 which have now been closed by energization of the control relay lCR. Thus, upon closing the start switch 204 the two electric drive motors 2i) and 11d are energized.

Further, at the time the start switch 264 is closed another control relay 2CR is energized in a circuit which includes a normally open limit switch 214. However, the limit switch 214 (FIGS. 5 and 8) is closed and held closed by the divider unit being in 'the forward or piston rod retracted position. With the energizing of the control relay ZCR, normally open contacts 216 are closed in a circuit to a solenoid 218 which operates a valve to cause the air cylinder 14@ of the divider unit l to extend the piston rod 142 and thus to move the divider unit carriage rearwardly. The circuit for the solenoid 21d also includes a normally open but held closed limit switch 22@ and normally closed contacts 222. The limit switch 2243 (FIGS. 2n and 8) is engaged and held closed by the shear gate 120 being in the down position. W ith the limit switch 220 closed, a time delay relay TDR2 is energized to open the contacts 222 after a pre-set period of time delay to provide time for the divider carriage to move rearwardly as described. Thus, after the shear gate 12% is lowered, a time delay period will ensue to permit an eight-can pattern to be moved from the central conveyor belt 193 onto the side conveyor belt 12S.

As the divider unit 13S moves rearwardly, the limit switch 214 is disengaged and it opens to de-energize the control relay 2CR. When this control relay is de-energized, its normal open contacts 216 open in the circuit to the solenoid 218 which causes movement of the carriage rearwardly. Thus, the divider carriage will continue to move to the full extent rearwardly at which time a limit switch 224 is engaged and closed. Vlhen the limit switch 224 is closed, a control relay ECR is energized. When the said relay is energized, normally open contacts 226 thereof are closed in a circuit to energize a solenoid 22d which controls a valve to reverse the direction of movement of the divider carriage. More speciiically, the solenoid 228 operates a valve to cause the air cylinder ld@ to retract the divider carriage or to move it forwardly with respect to the machine table.

However, this cannot be done unless the shear gate 1211i is down to close the limit switch 22@ which thereby energizes the time delay relay TDR2 to open the normally closed contacts 222 after a pre-set time delay. While the contacts 222 remain closed, the divider carriage can move forwardly.

Further, when the shear gate 12d is down, a pole 229g of the limit switch 22@ is held closed to energize a time delay relay TDR3. This time delay relay, after a pre-set time period, closes contacts 235) in a circuit which includes a solenoid 232. The solenoid 232 is used to position a suitable valve to control the air cylinder 126 so as to elevate the shear gate 129. Therefore, when the shear gate is lowered, it is held down for a set time period determined at the time delay relay TDR: which times out and closes the circuit to the solenoid 232 which thereupon causes the shear gate to be elevated. The time period that the gate is lowered is selected to be sumcient for i@ movement of the divider unit 138 either rearwardly or forwardly to move an eight-can pattern onto either the rear or front side conveyor.

As the shear gate goes up, a limit switch 234 is engaged and closed to complete a circuit with the closed detector switch 261 to a time delay relay TDRd. When the time delay relay TDR4 is energized, it will close normally open contacts 236 after a selected period of time delay. When the contacts 236 are closed, a circuit is completed to a solenoid 238 which operates the valve controlling the air cylinder 126 to bring the shear gate down. The time delay period for the relay TDR4 to close the contacts 236 is selected to keep the shear gate in the up position for a time suicient to permit eight cans to pass over the knoll 154 and into the divider unit 138. Then, the shear gate is lowered and held down as described to permit time for the divider unit to move the said eight cans onto one side belt or the other.

The cans which have been placed on the two side conveyors 12S and 139 by the divider unit 13S advance on those conveyor belts as shown in FIG. 7 until limit switches 24?: and 242 respectively (FIGS. 7 and 8) are engaged and closed by the foremost can in each advancing row. When both limit switches have been closed, thus indicating that both belts have supplied four cans on top of the elevator 159, a circuit is completed to a solenoid 244. The solenoid 244 controls a valve operating a suitable air cylinder or hydraulic cylinder to elevate the lift i613 to move four cans from each of the side rows up wardly to provide the first load group row for the two tiers of cans to be formed. The packer which is to be used in connection with this machine has the suitable means which has been described for retaining the load group rows in the elevated position, and in such elevated position, the litt will engage and close a limit switch 246 (FIGS. 7 and 8).

As the lift is being elevated, the limit switches 24@ and 2% are disengaged and open whereby the solenoid 244 is cle-energized to hold the valve in the position providing for movement of the lift upwardly. When the lift raises and engages and closes the limit switch 246, a circuit is completed to a solenoid 248 which repositions the said valve to start movement of the packer lift 16d downwardly. During upward and downward movement of the lift 16d, the cans cannot advance on the belts 12S and 39, because the foremost cans are engaged and held by a skirt 25ta on the lift 16d. The circuit to the elevator lowering solenoid 243 includes normally closed contacts 252 which are opened only when a control relay lCR is energized. Buring each cycle of vertical reciprocation of the elevator or lift 155.?, a load group row is added to the tier being formed for each row of the cans advancing onto the elevator. Since in the example shown it is desired to form two tiers comprising six 4-can rows, means are employed to count the number of rows that are accumulated in forming the tier.

rThe said counting means includes a switch 254 which is normally open but which is engaged and closed each time the elevator 16d is lowered. Each time the switch 254 is closed, it energizes a counter relay 256. After the relay 25d receives five counts resulting from live load group rows of cans being elevated in each tier, the said counter 255 then closes normally open contacts 258 to energize the relay dCR. That condition for the counter is shown in FIG. 7 wherein tive load group rows have been elevated in forming the two load group tiers.

When the relay ECR is energized, normally closed contacts 252 are opened in the circuit with the solenoid 243 to de-energize that solenoid so that the lift cannot be lowered after it is again raised. Thus, as the lift is elevated to bring the sixth load group row into position at the bottom of each load group tier, the elevator or lift will remain in the elevated position.

it will be understood that each time the elevator 164) is lowered, the cans in the two advancing rows on the conveyor belts 12S and 13) move ahead to engage and l l. close the two limit switches 24@ and 242 to energize the solenoid 244 which elevate's the Vlift 3.6i).

The control relay 4CR when energized also closes normally open contacts 260 in a circuit to a solenoid 262 which is used to position a valve so as to control a hydraulic cylinder or air cylinder to push the pusher plate 162 forwardly to load the two load group tiers of cans in a shipping case.

The circuit to the solenoid 262 also includes normally closed contacts 264, a normally open limit switch 266, and the normally open limit switch 246. The switch 246 will be closed by the elevator moving upwardly with the sixth row cans, but the closing of this switch at this time will not energize the solenoid 248 to move the lift downwardly because the normally closed contacts 252 have now been opened by the control relay 4CR. The other limit switch 266 will be closed only if a shipping case has been properly placed in position on the packer to receive the two tiers of cans being pushed thereto by the pusher 162. Assuming that a case is in proper position, the pusher 162 will advance forwardly across the elevated lift 160 and thrust the two 24 can tiers into the shipping case.

When the pusher i62 has reached the full limit of its travel to load the cans in the case, it will engage and close a limit switch 268 (FIGS. 7 and 8) which thereby completes a circuit to a control relay SCR. The closed switch `268 also completes parallel circuits to two solenoids 27@ and 272, the purpose of which will be described hereinafter.

When the control relay SCR is energized, it closes normally open contacts 274 in a shunt line around the limit switch 246 and the now open but normally closed contacts 252 in the circuit for the solenoid 24S which moves the elevator 166 downwardly. Thus, upon completion of the forward stroke of the pusher 162 the elevator 166 is lowered.

The solenoid 270 which was mentioned earlier as being energized by closing the limit switch 268 serves to position the valve controlling operation of the pusher 162 to return it to the rearward position shown in FIG. 7. The solenoid 272, which was mentioned earlier as being energized by closing the switch 268, operates to remove the lled case from the packer.

After the filled case has been removed from the packer, the operator places another empty case on means that will place it in position to receive cans. This means can be operated to place the case in proper position by closing a push button switch 276 which energizes a solenoid 27S for that purpose. When the case is in proper position, the limit switch 266 will be engaged and closed so that the pusher can be operated to iill the second case after the two tiers have been completed.

The invention claimed is:

l. A method of orienting tapered articles in end-by-end relationship in a plurality of side-by-side rows to form a load group comprising a generally rectangular tier for a shipping case, said method comprising the steps of advancing the articles in erect single tile order with similar ends facing in the same transverse direction with respect to their path of travel, laying the articles on their sides during advance thereof so that some similar ends face in opposed transverse directions with respect to their path of travel and in accordance with a predetermined pattern for a predetermined number of advancing articles, repeating the said pattern for each occurrence of the predetermined number of advancing articles, moving a selected number of the foremost articles in the advancing single iile transversely of the path of travel to form a load group row, and repeating the said movement of the selected number of articles to form a plurality of sideby-side rows of articles which then comprise'a load group tier.

2. A method of orienting tapered articles in end-byend relationship in a plurality of side-by-side rows which form a load group comprising a generally rectangular tier for a shipping case, said method comprising the steps of advancing the articles in erect single iile order with similar ends facing upwardly, laying the articles on their sides during advance to form a predetermined pattern which comprises a predetermined even number of successive articles including the iirst article in the advancing le and wherein similar ends of the first and last articles in the pattern face in the same transverse direction as do the opposite similar ends of the two articles in the middle of the pattern while the articles between the ends and middle are arranged in alternate end-by-end relationship, repeating the said pattern for each occurrence of the predetermined even number of advancing articles, moving the foremost one-half of the even number of articles in the foremost pattern away from the path of the advancing single iile to form a load group row, and repeating the said movement of each successive group comprising onehalf a pattern to form a plurality of side-by-side rows of articles which then form a load group tier.

3. A method of orienting tapered articles in end-byend relationship in a plurality of side-by-side rows to form a load group comprising a generally rectangular tier for a shipping case, said method comprising the steps of advancing the articles in erect single tile order with similar ends facing in the same transverse direction with respect to their path of travel, laying the articles on their sides in two rows during advance thereof so that some simiiar ends face in opposite transverse directions with respect to their path of travel and in accordance with a predetermined pattern for a predetermined number of advancing articles, converging the two rows of advancing articles into a single advancing row wherein the articles re-assume their initial file order but in the said predetermined pattern of end arrangement, repeating the said pattern for each occurrence of the predetermined number of advancing articles, moving a selected number of the foremost articles in the converged advancing single tile transversely of the path of travel to form a load group row, and repeating the said movement of the selected number of articles to form a plurality of side-by-side rows of articles which then comprise a load group tier.

4. A method of orienting tapered articles in end-by-end relationship in a plurality of side-by-side rows to form a load group comprising a generally rectangular tier for a shipping case, said method comprising the steps of advancing the articles in erect single tile order with similar ends facing in the same transverse direction with respect to their path of travel, laying the articles on their sides during advance thereof so that some similar ends face in opposite transverse directions with respect to their path of travel and in accordance with a predetermined pattern for a predetermined number of advancing articles, repeating the said pattern for each occurrence of the predetermined number of advancing articles, moving successive pattern groups of the advancing articles to opposite sides of the original path of travel to form two advancing rows of articles, moving a selected number of the foremost articles in each advancing row transversely of the path of travel of that row to form a load group row, and repeating the said movement of the selected number of articles to form a plurality of side-by-side load group rows of articles which then comprise a load group tier, there being one such tier formed from the articles in each of the said two advancing rows.

5. A method of orienting tapered articles in end-by-end relationship in a plurality of side-by-side rows which form a load group comprising a generally rectangular tier for a shipping case, said method comprising the steps of advancing the articles in erect single iile order with similar ends facing upwardly, laying the articles on their sides in two rows during advance thereof and then re-uniting them in their single iile order to form a predetermined pattern which comprises a predetermined even number of successive articles including the iirst article in the adwir.

vancing tile and wherein similar ends of the irst and last articles in the pattern face in the same transverse direction as do the opposite similar ends of the two articles in the middle of the pattern while the articles between the ends and middle are arranged in alternate endby-end relationship, repeating the said pattern for each occurrence of the predetermined even number of advancing articles, moving the foremost one-half of the even number of articles in the foremost pattern away from the path of the advancing single le to form a load group row, and repeating the said movement of each successive group comprising one-half a pattern to form a plurality of side-by-side rows of articles which then form a load group tier.

6. A method of orienting tapered articles in end-byend relationship in a plurality of side-by-side rows which form a load group comprising a generally rectangular tier for a shipping case, said method comprising the steps of advancing the articles in erect single iile order with similar ends facing upwardly, laying the articles on their sides during advance to form a predetermined pattern which comprises a predetermined even number of successive articles including the rst article in the advancing file and wherein similar ends of the first and last articles in the pattern face in the same transverse direction as do the opposite similar ends of the two articles in the middle of the pattern while the articles between the ends and middle are arranged in alternate end-by-end relationship, repeating the said pattern for each occurrence of the predetermined even number of advancing articles, moving succecssive pattern groups of the articles to opposite sides of the advancing file to form two advancing rows of articles, moving the foremost one-half of the even number of articles in the foremost pattern in each advancing row transversely from the path of the advancing row to forni a load group row, and repeating the said movement of each successive group comprising one-half a pattern to form a plurality of side-by-side load group rows of articles which then form a load group tier, there being one such tier formed from the articles in each of the said two advancing rows.

7. A method of orienting tapered articles in end-byend relationship in a plurality of side-by-side rows which form a load group comprising a generally rectangular tier for a shipping case, said method comprising the steps of advancing the articles in erect single file order with similar ends facing upwardly, laying the articles on their sides in two rows during advance thereof and then reuniting them in their single iile order to form a predetermined pattern which comprises a predetermined even number of successive articles including the first article in the advancing iile and wherein similar ends of the rst and last articles in the pattern face in the same transverse direction as do the opposite similar ends of the two articles in the middle of the pattern while the articles between the ends and middle are arranged in alternate endby-end relationship, repeating the said pattern for each occurrence of the predetermined even number of advancing articles, moving successive pattern groups of the articles to opposite sides of the advancing file to form two advancing rows of articles, moving the foremost onehalf of the even number of articles in the foremost pattern in each of the two last mentioned advancing rows transversely from the path of their advancing row to form a load group row, and repeating the said movement of each successive group comprising one-half a pattern to form a plurality of side-by-side load group rows of articles which then form a load group tier, there being one such load group tier formed from the articles in each of the last mentioned two advancing rows.

8. Apparatus for orienting tapered articles for packing in a shipping case, comprising conveying means for transporting the articles in spaced erect single file order, an endless chain supported over said conveying means and driven in timed relationship therewith and having means thereon to engage each article and tilt it onto its side on one or the opposite side of the advancing single iile according to a pattern which is repeated for every predetermined number of articles engaged, a pair of parallel side conveyors and an intermediate parallel conveyor operating respectively to receive the articles as they are tilted onto their sides and to transport them after they have been reestablished in single tile order, means for thrusting the articles from the pair of conveyors onto the intermediate conveyor whereby to reestablish a single le of the advancing articles in the said repeated pattern, and means operable at the advance end of the le to move a selected number of articles therefrom to form a load group row, said last mentioned means being operable to repeat the said movement of the same selected number of articles from the continuing succession thereof so as to form a plurality of side-by-side rows of the articles which then comprises a load group tier.

9. Apparatus for orienting tapered articles for packing in a shipping case, comprising conveying means for transporting the articles in spaced erect single file order, an endless chain supported over said conveying means and driven in timed relationship therewith and having means thereon to engage each article and tilt it onto its side on one or the opposite side of the advancing single le according to a pattern which is repeated for every predetermined even number of articles engaged, a pair of parallel side conveyors and an intermediate parallel conveyor operating respectively to receive the articles as they are tilted onto their sides and to transport them after they have been reestablished in a single le order, means for thrusting the articles from the pair of conveyors onto the intermediate conveyor whereby to reestablish a single file of the -advancing articles in a repetitive pattern containing said predetermined even number and wherein the large ends of the first and last articles in the pattern face in one transverse direction and the large ends of the two middle articles face in the opposite transverse direction with respect to the path of travel while the articles between the ends and middle are arranged in alternate end-by-end relationship, means for separating the foremost pattern group in advance of the succeeding groups, and an elevator arranged to receive and remove the foremost one-half of the said even number of articles in the separated group to form a load group row and to repeat such operation to provide a stack of load group rows which thereby form a tier of articles for a shipping case.

10. Apparatus for orienting tapered articles for packing in a shipping case, comprising conveying means for transporting articles in spaced erect single file order, an endless chain supported over said conveying means and driven in timed relationship therewith and having means thereon to engage each article and tilt it onto its side on one or the opposite side of the advancing single file according to a pattern which is repeated for every predetermined even number of articles engaged, a pair of parallel side conveyors and an intermediate parallel conveyor operating respectively to receive the articles as they are tilted onto their sides and to transport them after they have been reestablished in single le order, means for thrusting the articles from the pair of conveyors onto the intermediate conveyor whereby to reestablish a single iile of the advancing articles in a repetitive pattern containing said predetermined even number and wherein the large ends of the iirst and last articles in the pattern face in one transverse direction and the large ends of the two middle articles face in the opposite transverse direction with respect to the path of travel while the articles between the ends and middle are arranged in alternate endby-end relationship, means for separating the foremost pattern group in advance of the succeeding groups, reciprocable divider means for thrusting successive separated pattern groups alternately to one side and to the opposite side of the single file so as to dene t-wo advancing rows of articles arranged in pattern groups, a pair of con- 15 16 veyors for advancing said two rows, and an elevator ar- References Cited in the file of this patent ranged to receive and remove from the conveyors the UNITED STATES PATENTS foremost one-half of the said even number of articles in each of the said two advancing rows to form two load gags@ 11g/finzi group rows and to repeat such operation to provide two 5 2639070 Osonn Ma 19 1953 stacks of load group rows which thereby form two tiers 7819575 Ervine Jani/14 1958 of articles for a shipping'case. 

1. A METHOD OF ORIENTING TAPERED ARTICLES IN END-BY-END RELATIONSHIP IN A PLURALITY OF SIDE-BY-SIDE ROWS TO FORM A LOAD GROUP COMPRISING A GENERALLY RECTANGULAR TIER FOR A SHIPPING CASE, SAID METHOD COMPRISING THE STEPS OF ADVANCING THE ARTICLES IN ERECT SINGLE FILE ORDER WITH SIMILAR ENDS FACING IN THE SAME TRANSVERSE DIRECTION WITH RESPECT TO THEIR PATH OF TRAVEL, LAYING THE ARTICLES ON THEIR SIDES DURING ADVANCE THEREOF SO THAT SOME SIMILAR ENDS FACE IN OPPOSED TRANSVERSE DIRECTIONS WITH RESPECT TO THEIR PATH OF TRAVEL AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH A PREDETERMINED PATTERN FOR A PREDETERMINED NUMBER OF ADVANCING ARTICLES, REPEATING THE SAID PATTERN FOR EACH OCCURRENCE OF THE PREDETERMINED NUMBER OF ADVANCING ARTICLES, MOVING A SELECTED NUMBER OF THE FOREMOST ARTICLES IN THE ADVANCING SINGLE FILE TRANSVERSELY OF THE PATH OF TRAVEL TO FORM A LOAD GROUP ROW, AND REPEATING THE SAID MOVEMENT OF THE SELECTED NUMBER OF ARTICLES TO FORM A PLURALITY OF SIDEBY-SIDE ROWS OF ARTICLES WHICH THEN COMPRISE A LOAD GROUP TIER. 